Padilla’s lawyer: Obstruction raps vs senator ‘no merit’

Sen.-judge Robin Padilla MANILA, Philippines – The obstruction of justice charge filed against Sen. Robin Padilla before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly aiding Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s escape from an arrest warrant has “no merit,” Padilla’s lawyer said on Monday. Padilla’s legal counsel on the supposed violation, Julius Henry Balteza, told the camp’s position on the matter as it clarified its submission of a counter affidavit as required by the Office of the Ombudsman. “For now we will not divulge any legal matters concerning the counter affidavit of the case, but our position is that the obstruction case against Senator Padilla has no merit,” Balteza told the media. Article continues after this advertisement READ: Ombudsman: Robin ‘ignored’ summons in Bato ‘escape’ probe Balteza clarified in the same interview that Padilla did indeed submit his counter affidavit on the same day of the deadline on July 9, even showing the original copy marked “received” with a stamp of the Office of the Ombudsman. This is contrary to the claim of Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla who previously said that the senator “ignored” the agency’s order. Padilla’s lawyer explained that there may have been processes within the Office of the Ombudsman, which led to the information failing to reach Remulla. Still, Balteza assured that Padilla’s camp will be “respecting the legal process regarding this and we will await further orders from the Ombudsman concerning the case.” Article continues after this advertisement It was progressive group, Tindig Pilipinas, who filed the obstruction of justice case against Padilla, Senate Minority Leader Alan Cayetano and suspended Senate sergeant-at-arms Ma O. Aplasca after they supposedly aided Dela Rosa’s escape from the Senate premises as the latter was facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for supposed crimes against humanity. Dela Rosa was accused as a “co-perpetrator” to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs that supposedly prompted extrajudicial killings. /jpv Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.